The new Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jet launched by Bombardier Aerospace is offering the new CF34-8C5A2 derivative engine as one of GE's CF34-8C5 engines available for the CRJ1000 aircraft.

The GE CF34-8C5 family of engines also power the current fleets of Bombardier CRJ700, CRJ705 and CRJ900 aircraft.

The new engine version, the CF34-8C5A2, will be rated at the same 14,510 pounds of thrust as the original CF34-8C5, but with a greater thrust capability at takeoff. The CF34-8C5A2 will provide 5 percent more thrust at normal takeoff and up to 3 percent more thrust at maximum takeoff from low altitude airfields.

The new variant will include software modifications to the engine control to provide additional thrust, as well as an upgraded high-pressure turbine (HPT) for greater durability.

Upgrades to the HPT will include improved coatings to the two stages of airfoils, enhanced cooling schemes, and design modifications to the airfoils. These enhancements, aimed at reducing maintenance costs by up to 3 percent for the higher-thrust models, will become standard production hardware for the CF34-8 family of regional jet engines. Engine certification for the CF34-8C5A2 is targeted for early 2009.

The CRJ1000 aircraft program, as announced by Bombardier on February 19 2007, is launched with 38 firm orders, 15 of which are CRJ900 conversions, and 23 conditional orders and options. The aircraft, which will seat up to 100 passengers, is scheduled to enter service in late 2009.

GE's CF34 family is the best-selling engine in regional jet aviation. Almost 4,000 CF34 engines power Bombardier Challenger business jets and CRJ Series regional jet aircraft.